Ok guys, you sloppy and lazy boxers and kickboxers. This forum has been so damn quiet it's getting on my nerves. So we are going to heat it up A LOT! Let's go technical!!

We are going to pick a technique and dissect it. I'll start with it's history, application, usage and then for advanced usage. I might include how to defend it, but if it's a secret technique then I won't reveal it. (You know, it's always best to be the only one with the "edge")

Technique of the week; Shovel hooks.

Made famous by Rocky Marciano for topling heavyweight boxers in in-fighting. Using this techniques he could box down people who were 2-3 times bigger than he was.

Application (For right-handed boxers);Standing in south-paw (the prefered position in in-fighting). Keep your elbows pressed against your ribs while tucking your chin behind your fists to form a barrier between your body and opponent. To perform the shovel hook, lean slightly to your right as if dodging a straight, and instead of dropping your lead hand to like an uppercut, make your fist in a 45 degree angle and then rotate your hip while at the same time turning your body in the opposite direction of your opponent. Your lead hand should be going up like an uppercut without needing to drop your arms or defense. The stronger the turning action of your hip and shoulder, the more powerful the thrust with the lead hand will be.

This technique is one of my favorite. It's very defensive in nature, doesn't require you to open up anything for attack, and is great while doing in combination. For example, doing 2 shovel hooks with your lead then instantly following it with a cross or rear elbow(for MT) is just morning glory).

This technique only disadvantage is that it can only be done in really close proximity. In boxing, this is THE weapon for short and bulky fighters. In MT, this can be countered with the clinch, but still, you do have the opportunity to screw up your opponent's clinch if you manage to deliver 2-3 of these before he is able to press his forearms on your collar bone.

For more advanced boxers; In orthodox; deliver 1-2 combination while on two, step forward with your rear leg to go into south-paw. As you're in south-paw, lean to your right and perform 2 shovel hooks aiming on the floating ribs and follow it with a cross to the solar plexus or chin. A killer combo!! This was one of the techniques done by both Rocky Marciano and... surprise! Myke Tyson.

Defense; If you are able (which is not often) to spot a pattern, or a habit of you opponent that favors the shovel hook there is one technique which can be done to defend against it. Blocking with your bicep is not a great idea as it will cause you to be unable to fight after a while. The first thing you'll do if you're caught in Orthodox and he's in south-paw, is to step back while at the same time "shuffling" (take a step back with your lead leg) your legs into south-paw. Then you'll use your rear hand/glove, to push down inside your opponent's elbow as he bends his arm, thus ruining the mechanism of a shovel hook. While he's still figuring out what happened, you're adviced to either use this opportunity to go into the clinch (MT & MMA) or follow with a jab to his face while on the inside, and quickly retreat out of range.

The shovel hooks is one of the rare techniques of Queensbury boxing, widely used during the early 50's and more or less forgotten until Tyson's reign. Most however credit Tyson for his uppercuts, but 80% of his uppercuts were either shovel hooks or bordering on shovel hooks (elbows tucked tight near the ribs, rear hand still protecting the face).

Next week; Russian hook.

-Taison out

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I got two fists.. Don't make me use my head as well!